Tuesday, November 26, 2013

God
is the most merciful being EVER. Thank you for all the prayers in my behalf
because SISTER LLOYD AND I STAYED TOGETHER! She
understands me perfectly and never judges me for my imperfection, but instead
does everything in her power to instill in my heart a change for the better.
She is SUCH a blessing in my life.

I
LOVED the work this week. My studies have just been mind-blowing and I am SOAKING
up the knowledge that comes directly from the Spirit. I crave it. I seek it. I
want it so bad. (some days it doesn’t come and I am still trying to figure out
why…but that will come in time, right?) Part of the reason the work is so good
this week is because we got another companion!!! Sister Chloe Murphy is the
cutest thing ever. She was actually trained by Sister Lloyd too, so us three
are like this unstoppable combo and I’m just lovin’ it. It is SO cool to hear
her and Lloyd speak of stories and how THE work of salvation continues.

I
got the most powerful testimony from her this week that the Lord is a part of
this work. She got the impression to share 1 Nephi 17 with some other
sisters…little did she know, that chapter was for me. It would take 20 minutes
to describe why it hit me so hard, but as I read about the Lord showing Nephi
how to build a boat, the Spirit testified to my heart that God wouldn’t leave
me if I did the things He asked me to do. He WANTS to bless us. But laws are
conditional to US doing OUR part. Wow. Church is true. Who knew? I didn’t. I
feel everyday that my testimony yesterday was a joke compared to what it is at
the end of each day. I LOVE being here. I LOVE the scriptures for answering my
prayers…and my companions for answering my unspoken ones. This week I really
craved that confirmation. And when it happened, I was FLOORED by how real the
Book of Mormon is. READ IT! Anyone listening, PLEASE READ IT!

Iowa
City is a cool city. It’s like country + college town + trailer parks +
adorable neighborhoods, all in one city. I love it here. The people are SO
nice. I know hard times (and even hard companions) will come…but I LOVE being
“in this part of the Lord’s vineyard.” There are like 13 sets of missionaries
here, so it always seems to be a party. It snowed for the first time, so it's
getting a little chilly, but I still refuse to break out my winter coat: :) so
it's not THAT bad yet.

Scott
(the truck driver) is doing great. He teaches ME a lesson on humility and
positive attitude every time I talk to him.

D_____
is the greatest 12 year old EVER. Her date was supposed to be this coming
Saturday…but her mom isn’t exactly on board yet. But I don’t even mind because
I am secretly thinking much good will come out of this. I seriously feel like
she’s my little sister. She is SO passionate about Jesus Christ: I always
forget how young she is. She came up to me after church on Sunday, on the brink
of tears because her friend had been really hurt her and another friend. The
Lord works in AMAZING ways because we were then able to teach her the most
powerful lesson. She will changes LIVES as a member of this church. She is so
strong, especially from what she’s been through. Every time I see her, I reflect
on what a weakling I am: my life has been so incredibly perfect, and my faith
definitely needs a lesson or two from a 12 year old…and a 14 year old prophet
in the Sacred Grove. Amazing. So amazing. So much love in one living room!!!!!

Last Wednesday, I'm not going to lie, I was super homesick.
I had SUCH good intentions of writing all these people I love...and instead I
spent the whole day lying in bed with the flu. Luckily is was P-day so I didn't
even have to miss out on missionary work, and I was well enough to do studies
in the morning...but you have no idea how much I missed my loved ones back
home. Luckily it was a 24 hour bug and the next morning I felt better than
EVER. I really feel like Heavenly Father was reminding me how good I have it. I
was SO grateful that day. He really takes care of me...I just feel so guilty
for not writing everyone! Anyways: LOVE YOU ALL and I am so glad I'm not
pregnant. Being nauseous for one day is bad enough. :) Also: I think I got it
from the family we live with...but their 4 little girls are the cutest thing
EVER that I didn't regret it at all. :) I LOVE MY LIFE SO MUCH. I pray often
that my family is doing ok at home.....but God knows that everytime I pray
that, my real wish is for my mother to not have to worry about me. My family: I
miss you terribly. ONE MONTH TIL SKYPE TIME!?!?!?! Speaking of which: we are
well taken care of for Thanksgiving: we are spending most of the evening with a
member of the mission presidency and his wife. AH! Love my life.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Bienvenida a Iowa! hahah jk. I'm speaking English. :) But
sometimes I forget. I saw the pictures you sent me of Ben this week and they
were "blazed in my mind' all week. (just like Grandpa always says).

I LOVE THIS WORK. I love it so much. My testimony grows so
much everyday that I hardly recognize myself from yesterday.

Sister Lloyd has changed my entire life. The way I think,
the way I feel, the way I love. She is my role model of things she doesn't even
know I needed. Her character is more than I could have ever asked for. I can't
even describe how merciful and loving our Father in Heaven is because He
blessed me with her. She is an exceptional missionary and one of my favorite
human beings on this planet. We get the call TODAY to know if we are staying
together for transfers on Thursday. I have SO MUCH I still need to learn from her.

Dominique. Cutest 12 year old of my life. I feel so much
love for her and I've talked to her a total of 4 times now. She is having a
really hard time in her life due to family stuff and a member referred her to
us and she committed to baptism in december the first time we met with her. I
wish I could show you the complete and pure joy I feel everytime she talks.
Satan is a complete jerk and I have told him several times this week to get
lost. He works hard on everyone, but we know there is a STRONGER force at work
here, and I can tell that she listens to that one. She's amazing.

Scott T---. The truck driver that Sister Lloyd and Sister
Harkness found. He was baptized last week. FREAKING MOST HUMLBE MAN EVER.
Teaching him the "recent convert lessons" is the funnest thing ever.
He took us out to dinner this week to thank us for changing his life. I feel
like I did nothing. He was so humble he let God do all the teaching for him.

Iowa is GORGEOUS. I'm moving
here. And it's warm still. So happy.

This work is amazing. All I can say is READ YOUR SCRIPTURES
EVERYDAY and you will never, ever doubt the truth of this church

Monday, November 11, 2013

Sister Lloyd LOVES pancakes and I told her about Carey's pancake business and
this same week Carrie Hopkins sent me a package with some in it. TELL HER SHE
WAS THE ANSWER TO SISTER LLOYD'S UNSPOKEN PRAYER!!!!!!!

Monday, November 4, 2013

THANK YOU for all the things you sent me. I REALLY loved getting Ben's full email. I
really missed you and him so much this week because I really don't feel like we
get enough time to talk. :( But anyways: Jordan Murray's, Jorgen's, and
Ben's email seriously lifted my heart so much. Thank you for all your care.

Also: I'm so sorry, last week... I
realized you had written a big question email and I went to respond and realized
that I was 2 minutes over my email time limit. :( Exact obedience is sometimes
painful.

To answer a few questions:

--I seriosuly seriously don't need anything. I am so so
happy. I never feel a need to have speakers. We have an ipod hook up to the
car...but usually we don't even use that because Lloyd and I always have
something to talk about. SO FUN! So yes: we have a car almost 24/7. We are
sharing it with one other companionship....but they are over the University
ward....so they end up just walking a lot. :) So no complaints.

I also bought
gloves and sweater-tights so I am SUPER warm. :) It's so great not to need
anything but sleep, a name tag, and my scriptures. SO GLAD WE BOUGHT ME GOOD
SHOES. However: would you send 2 packages of those Moleskin journals in the
yellow princess girls' room. :) blue and green. :) please. Mom, your prayers are
absolutely and completely felt. This week has been amazing.

The scripture is 2 Nephi 28:30.....but it's ok if you
told them a diferent one. I love ALL the scriptures.

also: I love that you wrote in your note "it will be
fun, we'll do it together." I already taught Sister Lloyd that inside joke
so I could use it with her. hahahah so funny. I miss our family....but she
quotes movies almost more than I do so we are having a blast. It seriously
doesn't even feel like work. It's just like best friends going out and talking
about what we both LOVE!!!!! I know hard times will come but for now I am just
LOVING it.